You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
evening all. I am about to get back into some trail riding, although my history is really only some light cannock chase days really.
im after a bike that will allow me to get back into some trails, whilst still serving as a towing bike for my little one in his trailer along some fire roads and canal paths and the like.
I am using my c2w scheme an have the full budget of 1k although I am happy to put another 200 if needed and ill get a much better bike.
so for 1k I have been to see and get on the Ragley Marley 2.0 and the Giant Fathom 2.
and for 1250ish I have seen the whyte 901 (2019) and the orange clockwork evo comp.
all 27.5 as im stuck on the 29s.
all components look largely comparable between each other at the respective price points and reviews from online sources all state they are all decent bikes.
ive not sat on the orange. all others "seem" to be largely the same, im pretty new and naïve to the nuances of 1 degree here or there in head angles etc. ive got short legs even tho 5'11 and ive managed to sit on mediums and they all seem fine to me.
so, anyone got advice on where they would plant there cash if it were them? im after a solid bike that will hold up to some ignorant trail riding whilst I improve my skills and confidence but also not be too hard on my unfit legs on the climbs. sorry for the long post.
I'll throw in my two penn'orth. Two decisions to make really, namely 29er or 27.5 & full sus or hard tail. With your budget you can actually afford some pretty respectable fs options should you choose.
However for the riding that you are looking to do I'd say a hardtail would give you best bang for your buck. That being the case I'd be looking at a 29er over the 27.5 option. Modern 29ers are far more manoeuvrable than you'd think and have more progressive geometry too. The bigger wheels will pedal better and will be much better to rides where you're towing. They'll climb better too.
With your budget you certainly have options. I'd suggest you look at the Voodoo Bizango from Halfords. Good quality bikes with excellent kit for well under a grand. Which gives you money for accessories and the like. Regularly wins bike tests.
If you're looking at fs, the Calibre Bossnut from Go Outdoors regularly gets great reviews.
Worth looking at Bird bikes for deals as well as on the likes of Chain Reaction - their Vitus brand gets good reviews.
The Whyte is a highly rated brand, but you're paying for the logo as well..